Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace needs to “straighten out her life” when he stopped by Capitol Hill this week, extending a bitter feud between the onetime House Republican colleagues.

“I hope Nancy gets the help she needs, I really do,” the California Republican who left Congress last year after losing the House top job, told reporters. “I just hope she gets the help to straighten out her life. I mean, she’s got a lot of challenges.”

“No one will stay working for her,” he said. “You can’t have somebody who just flips and flops based upon what TV station she gets put on. You want someone who’s willing to work, and so I hope she gets that kind of help.”

Ms. Mace, South Carolina Republican, is facing a primary challenge from a former top aide. There have also been reports that she is difficult to work with, and some of her former staffers have said they might join former Chief of Staff Dan Hanlon in his effort to win her seat.

Reports revealed that Mr. McCarthy himself might be behind Mr. Hanlon’s primary run.

Mr. McCarthy and Ms. Mace have a rocky relationship. She was one of the eight Republicans who joined with Democrats to oust Mr. McCarthy from his position as speaker in October. He resigned from Congress in December.

The Washington Times has reached out to Ms. Mace’s office for comment.

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.